[Magdalen] Home for the Holidays.

[James Oppenheimer-Crawford]

It is not what we have assumed -- or, in the case of some, what we [think
we] know.

For a nice read on a blustery cold evening, here's a scholarly explanation
of how December the 25th got to be Christmas.

http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/new-testament/how-december-25-became-christmas/



James W. Oppenheimer-Crawford
*“A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved,
except in memory. LLAP**”  -- *Leonard Nimoy

On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 12:30 PM, Sibyl Smirl <polycarpa3 at ckt.net> wrote:

> On 11/30/16 8:52 AM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> This is not an unique observation, but for some reason I've been more
>> aware this year of the portrayal of the Christmas holiday as extremely
>> important
>> to families but this does not translate into even the slightest
>> realization
>> of the real essence of the holiday.
>>
>> There are a half dozen series that I follow on television and  Christmas
>> is
>> always featured as very important to the characters, but never is  there
>> any idea of participating in religious observances which are the
>> foundation
>> of the holiday.
>>
>
> Actually, I suspect the foundation of the holiday, like all the others
> about this time, is the Winter Solstice, which is common to all Northern
> Hemisphere humans.  We _know_ that Jesus wasn't actually born at this time,
> from detail in the Nativity stories, but the holiday season connected to
> people being happy at the sun returning, the days lengthening, was a
> convenient peg to hang the celebration on.
>
>
>
> Christmas trees and decorations are prominently displayed, and there  are
>> often subplots involving Santa Klaus.  Families fight tooth and nail  to
>> get
>> together for the holiday usually portrayed on Christmas Eve.
>>
>> I am reminded of the three medical residents assigned to my area
>> over the Christmas holiday whom I observed having a heavy duty  argument
>> over who would be off for the holiday.  One was Jewish, one was
>> Moslem, and one was Hindu.
>>
>> Such is Christmas in North America.
>>
>>
>>
>> David S.
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> Sibyl Smirl
> I will take no bull from your house!  Psalms 50:9a
> mailto:polycarpa3 at ckt.net
>